JP2019081648A - Sheet folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

To fold a sheet in half without damaging the sheet, even if the sheet is thick.SOLUTION: A sheet folding device 10 includes: a first conveyor 12 for conveying a compress 1 forward; a second conveyor 13 spaced forward from the front end of the first conveyor 12; a folding plate 41 provided to be able to move forward and backward under the first conveyor 12 to advance from the front end of the first conveyor 12 onto the rear end of the second conveyor 13 and to retreat backward from the front end of the first conveyor 12; a motor 43 for driving the folding plate 41 to advance and retreat; and a pressing drive roller 51 spaced upward from the second conveyor 13, and placed on the rear end of the second conveyor 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding apparatus that folds a sheet in two.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to center folding of a sheet. That is, when the folding plate advances horizontally, the vertically erected sheet is pushed between the roller pair by the folding plate, whereby the sheet is folded in half.

JP, 2010-58916, A

  However, since the sheet is very thin, the folded sheet can enter between the roller pair. However, if the sheet is thick, the folded thick sheet can not enter between the roller pair. Even if the doubled thick sheet enters between the roller pair, the thick sheet is compressed by the roller pair and the thick sheet is damaged. For example, a part of the thick sheet may protrude from the edge of the thick sheet.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to fold in two without damaging the sheet even if the sheet is thick.

  In order to solve the above problems, the sheet folding apparatus comprises: a first conveyor for conveying the sheet forward; a second conveyor provided in front of and spaced apart from the front end of the first conveyor; A foldable retractably provided to advance from the front end of the first conveyor to above the rear end of the second conveyor under the one conveyor and to retract backward from the front end of the first conveyor Part, a drive part for driving the folding part to move back and forth, and a pressing member disposed above and separated from the transport surface of the second conveyor and disposed above the rear end of the second conveyor And a drive roller.

According to the above, since the pressing drive roller is provided above and separated from the transport surface of the second conveyor and disposed on the rear end of the second conveyor, the sheet is excessive by the pressing drive roller. It is not crushed by Thus, when the sheet passes downstream between the pressing drive roller and the second conveyor, the sheet can be prevented from being damaged.
The pressing drive roller is a driving roller. Therefore, the sheet folded in half is given a conveying force not only by the conveyor but also by the pressing drive roller. Upper and lower folds do not easily shift back and forth, and the sheet does not open easily.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet can be prevented from being damaged. In addition, it is difficult to open the folded sheet.

It is a side view of a sheet folding device. It is the side view which showed the state which the sheet-form wet cloth is conveyed by the 1st belt conveyor. It is the side view which showed the state which the compress fell from the front end of the 1st belt conveyor. It is the side view which showed the state which the compression cloth was folded in half by the folding board and was drawn between the 1st drive roller for pressing, and the 2nd belt conveyor. It is the side view which showed the state which the wet cloth was pinched | interposed between the 1st drive roller for pressing, and the 2nd belt conveyor, and was conveyed by the 1st drive roller for pressing and the 2nd belt conveyor. It is the side view which showed the state which the wet cloth was pinched | interposed between the 2nd drive roller for pressing, and the 2nd belt conveyor, and was conveyed by the 2nd drive roller for pressing and 2nd belt conveyor. It is sectional drawing in alignment with the vertical surface which passed through the axial center of the 1st drive roller for press. It is a side view of the principal part of the sheet folding device of a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferable limitations for practicing the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and the illustrated examples.

1. Sheet Folding Device The sheet folding device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a side view of the sheet folding apparatus 10. 2 to 6 are side views showing the flow of the process of folding the wet cloth 1 in two by the sheet folding apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. The order of the folding process of the wet cloth 1 is shown in the order of FIG.

  The sheet folding apparatus 10 includes a supply conveyor 11, a first belt conveyor 12, a second belt conveyor 13, a discharge conveyor 14, sensors 21 to 23, a pressure roller 26, a guide 31, a guard 32, a blower 35, a folding plate 41, A motor 43, a first pressing drive roller 51, an air cylinder 54, a second pressing drive roller 61, an air cylinder 64, a control unit 90, and the like are provided.

  A sheet-like (thin plate-like) flexible compress 1 is conveyed from the supply conveyor 11 to the discharge conveyor 14 via the first belt conveyor 12 and the second belt conveyor 13 sequentially via the conveyors 12 and 13. . When the wet cloth 1 is transferred from the first belt conveyor 12 to the second belt conveyor 13, the wet cloth 1 is folded in half by the folding plate 41 (see FIGS. 2 to 5). When the half-folded compress 1 is conveyed by the second belt conveyor 13, the fold of the compress 1 is attached by the first pressing drive roller 51 (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, the folding lever is strengthened by the second pressing drive roller 61 (see FIG. 6). Then, the half-folded compress 1 is carried out by the discharge conveyor 14.

  The wet cloth 1 is a sheet formed by laminating a base material, a drug layer and a release film in this order. The substrate is a square or rectangular sheet-like nonwoven fabric. The drug layer is applied to one side of the substrate and has adhesiveness. The release film is affixed to the surface of the drug layer by the tackiness of the drug layer. The release film is peelable from the drug layer. Since the wet cloth 1 is carried from the manufacturing apparatus of the wet cloth 1 to the sheet folding device 10 in a short time, the temperature is higher than normal temperature. Therefore, the viscosity of the drug layer of the compress 1 is low, and the drug layer is likely to be pushed out of the edge of the substrate and the release film by pressure. Moreover, the compress 1 is hard to attach a bending crease by the viscoelasticity of a chemical | medical agent layer, and the half-folded compress 1 is easy to open. Since the compress 1 is a laminated body, it is thick.

  The components of the sheet folding apparatus 10 will be described in detail below.

2. A transfer conveyor 11 for the wet cloth is provided on the upstream side of the belt conveyor 12. The belt conveyor 12 is provided on the upstream side of the belt conveyor 13. The belt conveyor 13 is provided upstream of the discharge conveyor 14. The conveying direction of the wet cloths 1 by the feed conveyor 11, the belt conveyor 12, the belt conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 14 is from the rear to the front. The upstream side in the transport direction refers to the rear, and the downstream side in the transport direction refers to the front.

  The feed conveyor 11 is a belt conveyor. The feed conveyor 11 feeds the wet cloths 1 one by one to the belt conveyor 12. The conveyance surface of the supply conveyor 11 is provided horizontally. The nonwoven fabric of the compress 1 conveyed by the feed conveyor 11 is directed downward and the release film of the compress 1 is directed upward.

  The endless belt 12a of the belt conveyor 12 is stretched around a tail roller 12b at the upstream end, a head roller 12c at the downstream end, a snap roller 12d, a drive roller 12e and a snap roller 12f. The endless belt 12a is folded forward (downstream) by the tail roller 12b, and is folded backward (upstream) by the head roller 12c. The conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12, that is, the section of the endless belt 12a from the tail roller 12b to the head roller 12c is inclined forward and downward. The rear folded end of the endless belt 12a of the belt conveyor 12 is adjacent to the front folded end of the supply conveyor 11, and the wet fabric 1 conveyed by the supply conveyor 11 is transferred from the endless belt 11a of the supply conveyor 11 to the endless belt 12a Be

  The drive roller 12 e is connected to the motor 18, and the belt conveyor 12 is driven by the motor 18. Since the belt conveyor 12 is of a center drive type, the drive roller 12e is disposed below between the tail roller 12b and the head roller 12c. The motor 18 is an induction motor, but may be another type of motor. The motor 18 is controlled at a constant speed by the control unit 90, and the transfer speed of the wet cloth 1 by the belt conveyor 12 is constant.

  The endless belt 13a of the belt conveyor 13 is stretched around a tail roller 13b at the upstream end, a head roller 13c at the downstream end, a tension roller 13d, a snap roller 13e, a drive roller 13f and a snap roller 13g. The endless belt 13a is folded forward by the tail roller 13b and is folded backward by the head roller 13c. The conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13, that is, the section from the tail roller 13b to the head roller 13c in the endless belt 13a is horizontal. The rear folded end of the endless belt 13 a of the belt conveyor 13 is spaced forward and downward from the front folded end of the endless belt 12 a of the belt conveyor 12. Therefore, a space 39 is formed between the rear folded end of the endless belt 13 a of the belt conveyor 13 and the front folded end of the endless belt 12 a of the belt conveyor 12. In the space 39, the wet cloth 1 conveyed by the belt conveyor 12 hangs down from the rear folded end of the endless belt 12a (see FIG. 3). Incidentally, the wet cloth 1 hanging down in the space 39 is folded in two by a folding plate 41 described later, and placed on the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13 (see FIG. 4).

  The drive roller 13 f is connected to the motor 19, and the belt conveyor 13 is driven by the motor 19. Since the belt conveyor 13 is of a center drive type, the drive roller 13 f is disposed below between the tail roller 13 b and the head roller 13 c. The motor 19 is a servomotor. The motor 19 is controlled at a constant speed by the control unit 90, and the transfer speed of the wet cloth 1 by the belt conveyor 13 is constant.

  The discharge conveyor 14 is a belt conveyor. The conveyance surface of the discharge conveyor 14 is provided horizontally. The rear folded end of the discharge conveyor 14 is adjacent to the front folded end of the belt conveyor 13. The folded-in-one pack 1 conveyed by the belt conveyor 13 is delivered from the endless belt 13 a of the belt conveyor 13 to the endless belt 14 a of the discharge conveyor 14. The discharge conveyor 14 discharges the half-folded compress 1 to downstream equipment.

  The endless belts 11a to 14a of the conveyors 11 to 14 are coated with a fluorine resin or the like, and the surfaces of the endless belts 11a to 14a have water repellency and oil repellency. Therefore, the chemical | medical agent which overflowed from the edge of the compress 1 does not adhere easily to endless belts 11a-14a.

3. Pressing Roller The pressing roller 26 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 27 on the transport surface of the belt conveyor 12. The pressure roller 26 is disposed near the head roller 12 c of the belt conveyor 12. The arm 27 is provided so as to be vertically movable with its proximal end 27a as a fulcrum. The pressing roller 26 vertically contacts and separates from the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12 by the ups and downs of the arm 27. One end of a tension spring 28 is connected to the arm 27, and the other end of the tension spring 28 is connected to a machine frame 91 of the sheet folding apparatus 10. The elastic force of the tension spring 28 biases the arm 27 downward, and the pressure roller 26 is pressed against the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12 by the tension spring 28.

  When the wet cloth 1 conveyed by the belt conveyor 12 passes under the pressure roller 26, the wet cloth 1 is sandwiched between the pressure roller 26 and the endless belt 12 a of the belt conveyor 12. Therefore, even if the compress 1 hangs down from the rear folded end of the endless belt 12a, the slip of the compress 1 does not occur. The pressing roller 26 is a driven roller that rotates following the conveyance of the endless belt 12 a and the wet cloth 1.

4. Guides and Guards The guides 31 are provided to surround the folded end of the front folded end of the endless belt 12a from the top to the front. The guide 31 is attached to the machine frame 91 so as to be separated radially outward with respect to the axis of the head roller 12 c from the front folded end of the endless belt 12 a. The lower end of the guide 31 is located above the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13.

  The guard 32 extends in the vertical direction between the front folded end of the endless belt 12 a and the rear folded end of the endless belt 13 a and is attached to the machine frame 91. The upper end of the guard 32 is flush with the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13 or is located slightly below the transport surface. Further, the guard 32 is aligned with the lower end of the guide 31 in the front-rear direction, or is positioned slightly in front of the lower end of the guide 31.

  The guide 31 and the guard 32 are coated with a fluorine resin or the like, and the surfaces of the guide 31 and the guard 32 have water repellency and oil repellency.

  The wet cloth 1 passing under the pressure roller 26 is guided between the endless belt 12a and the guide 31 (see FIG. 3). The compress 1 is guided by the guide 31 in the circumferential direction of the head roller 12c, and hangs down from the rear folded end of the endless belt 12a. As described above, since the wet cloth 1 is guided by the guide 31 to hang down, the wet cloth 1 does not hit the pressing drive roller 51 and the endless belt 13a described later when the wet cloth 1 is hanging down. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the medicine protruding from the edge of the wet cloth 1 from adhering to the pressing drive roller 51 and the endless belt 13a, and the wet cloth 1 is caught between the pressing drive roller 51 and the endless belt 13a. It can prevent.

5. Blower The blower 35 is provided above between the front folded end of the endless belt 12a and the rear folded end of the endless belt 13a. In particular, the blower 35 is provided above the space between the guide 31 and the guard 32. The blower 35 blows air toward the space 39 below, particularly between the guide 31 and the guard 32. Therefore, at the moment when the compress 1 protrudes from the front folded end of the endless belt 12 a, the compress 1 hangs down by the wind pressure of the blower 35.

  Also, a hole is formed in the guide 31 and the wind generated by the blower 35 passes through the hole. As a result, the wind generated by the blower 35 is rectified and the compress 1 protruding from the front folded end of the endless belt 12a hangs down without contacting the guide 31 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the medicine of the compress 1 does not adhere to the guide 31.

6. A folding plate 41 is attached to the linear guide 42 below the belt conveyor 12. The folding plate 41 is flush with the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13 or is located slightly above the transport surface. The folding plate 41 is located slightly above the upper end of the guard 32. The folding plate 41 is horizontally guided in the front-rear direction by the linear guide 42.

  The folding plate 41 is connected to the motor 43 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear transmission mechanism, a belt transmission mechanism, a ball screw transmission mechanism, and a pinion rack mechanism, and the motor 43 folds the folding plate 41 so as to move the folding plate 41 back and forth. The plate 41 is driven. The folding plate 41 may be driven in the front-rear direction not by the motor 43 but by an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid or an air cylinder.

  With the folding plate 41 advancing forward beyond the rear folded end of the belt conveyor 12, the leading end of the folding plate 41 approaches the rear folded end of the belt conveyor 13. In a state where the folding plate 41 is retracted rearward of the front folding end of the belt conveyor 12, the folding plate 41 is separated rearward from the rear folding end of the belt conveyor 13.

  As described above, when the compress 1 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 12, the compress 1 hangs down from the rear folded end of the endless belt 12a (FIG. 3). At that time, when the motor 43 advances the folding plate 41 forward, the wet cloth 1 is folded in half by the folding plate 41 (FIG. 4). The bent portion of the wet cloth 1 is drawn between the belt conveyor 13 and a pressing drive roller 51 described later (see FIG. 5). Then, the two-folded wet cloth 1 is conveyed downstream by the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51 while being sandwiched between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51.

  After the folding cloth 1 is drawn between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51, the motor 43 causes the folding plate 41 to retract backward. As a result, the folding plate 41 retracts backward from the space between the front folded end of the endless belt 12a and the rear folded end of the endless belt 13a.

  The folding plate 41 is coated with a fluorine resin or the like, and the surface of the folding plate 41 has water repellency and oil repellency. Therefore, it is difficult for the medicine which has run out from the edge of the compress 1 to adhere to the folding plate 41.

7. Sensors The sensors 21 to 23 are disposed above the transport surface of the belt conveyor 12.
The sensor 21 is disposed above the central portion in the width direction of the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12. Here, the width direction is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. The width direction is the left and right direction, and the back side of the sheet of FIGS. 1 to 6 is the left, and the near side of the sheet of FIGS. 1 to 6 is the right.
The sensor 22 is disposed above the left of the transport surface of the belt conveyor 12, and the sensor 23 is disposed above the right of the transport surface of the belt conveyor 12.

  The sensor 21 is a reflection type light sensor that emits light downward with a light projector and receives light reflected from below with a light receiver. When the wet cloth 1 is positioned below the sensor 21 and the light is blocked by the wet cloth 1, the wet cloth 1 is detected by the sensor 21.

  Similar to the sensor 21, the sensors 22 and 23 are also reflective optical sensors. When the wet cloth 1 is on the left side on the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12, the wet cloth 1 is detected by the sensor 22. When the wet cloth 1 is on the right side on the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 12, the wet cloth 1 is detected by the sensor 23. If the compress 1 is at the center in the width direction without shifting to the left and right, the compress 1 is not detected by the sensors 22 and 23.

  The detection results of the sensors 21 to 23 are input from the sensors 21 to 23 to the control unit 90. When the wet cloth 1 is not detected by either of the sensors 22 and 23 and the wet cloth 1 is detected by the sensor 21, the control unit 90 operates the motor 43 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the sensor 21. As a result, the folding plate 41 advances as described above, so the wet cloth 1 is folded in half by the folding plate 41.

  On the other hand, when the wet cloth 1 is detected by one or both of the sensors 22 and 23, even if the wet cloth 1 is detected by the sensor 21, the control unit 90 does not operate the motor 43. Thereby, the compress 1 falls without being folded.

  The time from detection of the sensor 21 to actuation of the motor 43 is determined by the output of the encoder of the motor 19. That is, when the first predetermined number of pulses is input from the encoder to the control unit 90 from the time of detection of the sensor 21, the control unit 90 operates the motor 43. At the timing when the control unit 90 operates the motor 43, since the middle of the wet cloth 1 is positioned ahead of the tip of the folding plate 41, the wet cloth 1 is folded at the middle thereof.

8. First Pressing Drive Roller FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vertical plane passing through the axial center of the first pressing drive roller 51. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the pressing drive roller 51 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 52 on the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13. The pressing drive roller 51 is disposed above the tail roller 13 b of the belt conveyor 13. The arm 52 is provided so as to be vertically movable with its proximal end 52a as a fulcrum. An air cylinder 54 is connected to a proximal end 52 a of the arm 52 via a crank rod 54 a. The pressing drive roller 51 is biased downward by the air cylinder 54, and the pressing drive roller 51 or the arm 52 abuts against the stopper 55 to receive the load of the pressing drive roller 51.

  Air pressure is supplied to the air cylinder 54 via a pressure control valve (electro-pneumatic regulator). The pressure regulating valve regulates the supply pressure to the air cylinder 54 to be constant. Therefore, the load with which the pressing drive roller 51 is pressed downward by the air cylinder 54 is constant.

  When the pressing drive roller 51 or the arm 52 is in contact with the stopper 55, the pressing drive roller 51 is separated upward from the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13. When the pressing drive roller 51 or the arm 52 is in contact with the stopper 55, the width of the gap between the pressing drive roller 51 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13 is equal to twice the thickness of the wet cloth 1. However, the width of the gap may be slightly wider than twice the thickness of the compress 1. The position of the stopper 55 in the vertical direction can be adjusted, and the width of the gap between the pressing drive roller 51 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13 according to the thickness of the wet cloth 1 and the viscoelasticity of the drug layer. Can be adjusted.

  The pressing drive roller 51 is connected to a motor 19 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear transmission mechanism or a belt transmission mechanism, and the motor 19 rotationally drives the pressing drive roller 51. The circumferential speed of the pressing drive roller 51 is equal to the conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 13.

  A plurality of grooves 51 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pressing drive roller 51 along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the pressing drive roller 51. The grooves 51 a are arranged in the axial direction of the pressing drive roller 51. A plate-like winding prevention member 53 is inserted in the grooves 51a. Although the anti-rolling member 53 is fixed to the arm 52 by the bracket 56, the pressing drive roller 51 is not restrained by the anti-rolling member 53. Therefore, the pressing drive roller 51 can rotate relative to the trapping prevention member 53.

  The lower end surface 53 a of the anti-rolling member 53 faces the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13, and there is a gap between the lower end surface 53 a of the anti-roll member 53 and the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13. Further, the lower end surface 53 a of the anti-rolling member 53 is disposed closer to the axis than the outer peripheral surface of the pressing drive roller 51. Therefore, the width of the gap between the lower end surface 53a of the anti-rolling member 53 and the endless belt 13a is wider than the width of the gap between the pressing drive roller 51 and the endless belt 13a. The lower end surface 53a of the anti-rolling member 53 extends from the groove 51a to the front of the pressing drive roller 51, that is, to the downstream side.

  The pressing drive roller 51 and the winding prevention member 53 are coated with a fluorine resin or the like, and the surfaces of the pressing drive roller 51 and the winding prevention member 53 have water repellency and oil repellency. Therefore, it is difficult for the medicine that has run out from the edge of the wet cloth 1 to adhere to the pressing drive roller 51 and the anti-rolling member 53.

  When the wet cloth 1 is folded in half by the folding plate 41 as described above, the bent portion of the wet cloth 1 is drawn between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51 (see FIG. 4). Since there is a gap between the pressing drive roller 51 and the belt conveyor 13, the two-folded compress 1 is reliably drawn between the pressing drive roller 51 and the belt conveyor 13. At that time, the wet cloth 1 is not crushed excessively by the pressing drive roller 51, and the medicine does not go out of the edge of the wet cloth 1.

  When the half-folded compress 1 passes downstream between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51, the air cylinder 54 applies a load to sandwich the compress 1 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, a fold is formed at the folding portion of the wet cloth 1, and the portion overlapped in two folds is firmly folded. Further, since the nonwoven fabric is inside and the half-folded wet cloth 1 is pressed by the pressing drive roller 51, the fibers of the upper and lower nonwoven fabrics are intertwined.

  Not only the belt conveyor 13 but also the pressing drive roller 51 is driven, and the circumferential speed of the pressing drive roller 51 is equal to the conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 13. Therefore, the portion folded in half does not shift in the transport direction. Thus, the wet cloth 1 can be prevented from opening.

  The supply pressure to the air cylinder 54 is set to such an extent that the medicine does not protrude from the edge of the compress 1 sandwiched between the pressing drive roller 51 and the belt conveyor 13. The supply pressure is set to such an extent that the conveying force is transmitted from the pressing drive roller 51 to the wet cloth 1.

  When the wet cloth 1 passes downstream between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 51, the wet cloth 1 is guided by the lower end surface 53 a of the anti-rolling member 53. Thus, the wet cloth 1 can be prevented from being wound around the pressing drive roller 51. That is, even if the wet cloth 1 adheres to the pressing drive roller 51 due to the chemical that has run out from the edge of the wet cloth 1, the floating protection of the wet cloth 1 is blocked by the entrapment prevention material 53, so that the wet cloth 1 is the pressing drive roller Peel from 51.

9. Second Pushing Drive Roller As shown in FIG. 1, the second pressing drive roller 61 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 62 on the transport surface of the belt conveyor 13. The pressing drive roller 61 is disposed downstream of the pressing drive roller 51. The arm 62 is provided so as to be vertically movable with its proximal end 62a as a fulcrum. An air cylinder 64 is connected to a proximal end 62 a of the arm 62 via a crank rod 64 a.

  The control unit 90 controls the electro-pneumatic regulator of the air cylinder 64 to drive the air cylinder 64 to raise and lower the arm 62, thereby moving the pressing drive roller 61 up and down. When the pressing drive roller 61 is lowered by the air cylinder 64 and the pressing drive roller 61 or the arm 62 abuts against the stopper, the pressing drive roller 61 is positioned at the lowest point. In a state where the pressing drive roller 61 is positioned at the lowermost point, the width of the gap between the pressing drive roller 61 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13 is equal to that of the pressing drive roller 51 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13. It is narrower than the width of the gap between. When the pressing drive roller 61 is at the lowermost position, the width of the gap between the pressing drive roller 61 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13 is slightly smaller than twice the thickness of the wet cloth 1.

  When the pressing drive roller 61 is located at the lowest point, the air pressure supplied to the air cylinder 64 by the electropneumatic regulator is kept constant. Therefore, the load with which the pressing drive roller 61 is pressed downward by the air cylinder 64 is constant.

  The pressing drive roller 61 is connected to the motor 19 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear transmission mechanism or a belt transmission mechanism, and the motor 19 rotationally drives the pressing drive roller 61. The circumferential velocity of the pressing drive roller 61 is equal to the transport velocity of the belt conveyor 13.

  In the same manner as the winding prevention member 53 is mounted in the groove 51 a of the pressing drive roller 51 as shown in FIG. 2, the winding prevention member 63 is mounted in the groove of the pressing drive roller 61. The winding prevention member 53 is similar to the winding prevention member 63.

  The elevation timing of the pressing drive roller 61 is as follows. The pressing drive roller 61 is raised to the uppermost point by the air cylinder 64 until the folding cloth 1 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 13 to the pressing drive roller 61 (see FIG. 5). Immediately after the bent portion of the wet cloth 1 passes through the gap between the pressing drive roller 61 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13, the pressing drive roller 61 is lowered to the lowest point by the air cylinder 64 ( See Figure 6). As a result, the wet cloth 1 is nipped between the pressing drive roller 61 and the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13. When the wet cloth 1 passes downstream between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 61, a load for sandwiching the wet cloth 1 is given by the air cylinder 64. Therefore, the portion folded in half is further firmly folded.

  In addition, since the circumferential speed of the pressing drive roller 61 is equal to the conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 13, the portion folded in half does not shift in the conveyance direction. Thus, the wet cloth 1 can be prevented from opening.

  The supply pressure to the air cylinder 64 is set to such an extent that the medicine does not protrude from the edge of the compress 1 sandwiched between the pressing drive roller 61 and the belt conveyor 13. The supply pressure is set to such an extent that the conveying force is transmitted from the pressing drive roller 61 to the wet cloth 1.

  After the whole of the folding cloth 1 passes downstream between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 61, the pressing drive roller 61 is raised to the uppermost point by the air cylinder 64.

  The elevation timing of the pressing drive roller 61 as described above is determined by the sensor 21. That is, when a predetermined number of pulses is input from the encoder of the motor 19 to the control unit 90 from the time of detection of the sensor 21, it means that a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of detection of the sensor 21. And the pressing drive roller 61 immediately after passing downstream. Then, the control unit 90 operates the electro-pneumatic regulator of the air cylinder 64, and the pressing drive roller 61 is lowered by the air cylinder 64. Subsequently, when a predetermined number of pulses is input from the encoder of the motor 19 to the control unit 90, immediately after the whole of the pack 1 in the form of a half fold passes between the belt conveyor 13 and the pressing drive roller 61 downstream. Since the controller 90 operates the electro-pneumatic regulator of the air cylinder 64, the pressing drive roller 61 is raised by the air cylinder 64.

  The pressing drive roller 61 and the winding prevention material 63 are coated with a fluorine resin or the like, and the surfaces of the pressing drive roller 61 and the winding prevention material 63 have water repellency and oil repellency. Therefore, it is difficult for the medicine that has run out from the edge of the wet cloth 1 to adhere to the pressing drive roller 61 and the anti-rolling member 63.

10. Advantageous Effects (1) Since the pressing drive roller 51 is separated from the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 13, the wet cloth 1 is not crushed excessively by the pressing drive roller 51. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the compress 1 from being damaged due to the medicine coming out of the edge of the compress 1.

(2) The folding cloth 1 is folded between the pressing drive roller 51 and the belt conveyor 13 so that the packing cloth 1 is folded. Since the wet cloth 1 is further sandwiched between the pressing drive roller 61 and the belt conveyor 13, the bending crease of the wet cloth 1 becomes strong. Therefore, it can prevent that the folding of the wet cloth 1 is released and the wet cloth 1 is opened.

(3) The supply pressure of the air cylinder 54 is constant, and the load applied from the pressing drive roller 51 to the two-folded compress 1 is also constant. Therefore, the thick portion of the compress 1 is not strongly pressed locally. Therefore, the compress 1 can be neatly folded, and the drug can be prevented from locally sticking out of the edge of the compress 1.

(4) After the bent portion of the wet cloth 1 passes through the gap between the pressing drive roller 61 and the belt conveyor 13 downstream, the wet cloth 1 is pressed by the pressing drive roller 61. Therefore, even if the bent portion of the compress 1 is thick, the medicine does not protrude from the edge of the compress 1 at that portion. In addition, the upper and lower portions in the two folds do not shift back and forth. If the bending portion of the wet cloth 1 is pressed downward by the pressing drive roller 61, the bending portion is crushed, and the upper and lower portions of the two folds shift back and forth.

(5) When the pressing drive roller 61 is lowered, the supply pressure of the air cylinder 64 is constant, and the load given from the pressing drive roller 61 to the two-fold wet cloth 1 is also constant. Therefore, the compress 1 can be neatly folded, and the drug can be prevented from locally sticking out of the edge of the compress 1.

(6) The guide 31 and the guard 32 are provided. Therefore, the wet cloth 1 does not hit the endless belt 13 a or the pressing drive roller 51 due to the inertial force of the wet cloth 1 transported by the belt conveyor 12.

(7) The blower 35 blows air from above the space 39 toward the space 39. Therefore, when the wet cloth 1 comes out from the front end of the belt conveyor 12, the wet cloth 1 is forced to hang down by wind pressure. Therefore, the wet cloth 1 does not hit the endless belt 13 a or the pressing drive roller 51.

11. Modifications The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. The above embodiments are for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not for the purpose of limiting the present invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention also includes the equivalents thereof. The changes from the above embodiment will be described below. The various modifications described below may be combined and applied.

(1) The front end of the folding plate 41 may be provided in a comb shape. In that case, a plurality of grooves are formed along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the pressing drive roller 51, and the grooves are arranged in the axial direction of the pressing drive roller 51. Then, when the folding plate 41 advances, the teeth (convex portions) of the folding plate 41 do not interfere with the pressing drive roller 51 by the grooves of the pressing drive roller 51.

(2) In the above embodiment, the pressing drive roller 61 moves up and down between the uppermost point and the lowermost point of the elevating range by the expansion and contraction of the air cylinder 64. On the other hand, the air cylinder 64 may not expand or contract, and the pressing drive roller 61 may always stop at the lowermost position. In this case, when the folded portion of the wet cloth 1 is pressed downward by the pressing drive roller 61, the folded portion is crushed and the upper and lower portions of the two folds are displaced forward and backward. Therefore, it is preferable that the advancing timing of the folding plate 41 be changed in consideration of the deviation. Then, even if the upper and lower layer portions in the two folds are shifted back and forth, the upstream end portion of the upper layer portion and the upstream end portion of the lower layer portion are aligned.

(3) A mechanism similar to the drive roller 61 for pressing, the arm 62, the jam prevention member 63, and the air cylinder 64 may be provided on the discharge conveyor 14. In this case, the pressing drive roller descends immediately after passing through the gap between the pressing drive roller of the mechanism and the transport surface of the discharge conveyor 14. As a result, the wet cloth 1 is sandwiched between the pressing drive roller and the discharge conveyor 14 so that the folding crease of the wet cloth 1 is further strengthened.

(4) In the above embodiment, the air cylinder 64 maintains the pressing drive roller 61 in the lowered state while the half-folded wet cloth 1 passes under the pressing drive roller 61 in the forward direction. On the other hand, while the two-folded wet cloth 1 passes under the pressing drive roller 61 forward, the pressing drive roller 61 may move up and down multiple times by the air cylinder 64 expanding and contracting multiple times. . By doing this, the wet cloth 1 is pressed a plurality of times by the pressing drive roller 61.

(5) In the above embodiment, the first conveyor is the belt conveyor 12. On the other hand, the first conveyor may be a roller conveyor. A roller conveyor is one in which a plurality of rollers are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the power of a motor is rotationally driven by transmitting power to these rollers by a transmission mechanism (for example, a gear mechanism, a belt transmission mechanism). . In this case, the pressure roller 26 is pressed against any roller of the roller conveyor by a tension spring 28. The roller is, for example, the front roller of the lead or row.

(6) In the above embodiment, the second conveyor is the belt conveyor 13. On the other hand, the second conveyor may be a roller conveyor. A roller conveyor is one in which a plurality of rollers are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the power of a motor is rotationally driven by transmitting power to these rollers by a transmission mechanism (for example, a gear mechanism, a belt transmission mechanism). . In this case, the pressing drive roller 51 is disposed upward from the rearmost roller of the roller conveyor, and the pressing drive roller 61 is disposed upward from the rearmost roller relative to the rearmost roller. Therefore, the compression cloth 1 folded in half by the folding plate 41 advancing as described above is drawn between the last roller of the roller conveyor and the pressing drive roller 51. Furthermore, the wet cloth 1 is sandwiched between the lowered pressing drive roller 61 and the roller of the roller conveyor.

(7) As shown in FIG. 8, the second conveyor 13 may have a transport roller 13 h that is rotationally driven by the motor 19. The transport roller 13 h is disposed behind the tail roller 13 b. The pressing drive roller 51 is disposed to be separated upward from the transport roller 13 h. Therefore, the wet cloth 1 folded in half by the folding plate 41 advancing as described above is drawn between the conveying roller 13 h and the pressing drive roller 51.

1 ... Wet cloth (sheet)
10: Sheet folding device 12: first belt conveyor (first conveyor)
13: Second belt conveyor (second conveyor)
19 Motor 31 Guide 32 Guard 35 Blower 41 Folded plate (folded portion)
43: Motor (drive unit)
51: first pressing drive roller 54: air cylinder 61: second pressing drive roller 64: air cylinder (second drive unit)

Claims (8)

A first conveyor for conveying the sheet forward;
A second conveyor spaced forward from the front end of the first conveyor;
Under the first conveyor, it is retractably provided to advance from the front end of the first conveyor onto the rear end of the second conveyor and to retract backward from the front end of the first conveyor. And the folded part,
A driving unit that drives the folding unit to move forward and backward;
A pressing drive roller spaced above the second conveyor and located above the rear end of the second conveyor;
Sheet folding apparatus comprising: After the sheet is conveyed by the first conveyor and hangs down from the front end of the first conveyor, the drive section advances the folding portion to bend the sheet, and the pressing drive roller and the pressing drive roller The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two conveyors pull in a bent portion of the folded sheet. A second pressing drive roller provided so as to be able to move up and down in front of the pressing drive roller and on the second conveyor;
A second drive unit that drives the second pressing drive roller to move up and down;
And further
The second pressing drive roller is separated upward from the second conveyor when the second driving unit lowers the second pressing drive roller to the lowest point of the lifting range. The sheet folding device according to 1 or 2. When the second drive unit lowers the second pressing drive roller to the lowest point of the lifting range, the gap between the second conveyor and the second pressing drive roller is 4. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the space between the first conveyor and the pressing drive roller is narrower than the gap. When the bent portion of the sheet passes through the gap between the second conveyor and the second pressing drive roller, the second drive unit lowers the second pressing drive roller, and When the entire sheet passes through the gap between the second conveyor and the second pressing drive roller, the second drive unit raises the second pressing drive roller. The sheet folding device according to. The sheet fold according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a blower for blowing air from above the space between the front end of the first conveyor and the rear end of the second conveyor toward the space. apparatus. The guard according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a guard provided in front of the rear end of the second conveyor in the space between the front end of the first conveyor and the rear end of the second conveyor. Sheet folding apparatus as described. The sheet folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a guide provided to surround the front end of the front end of the first conveyor.

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